od what lay beneath."

"You did, and to a wonderful extent; but it took me hours of bitter
fighting to understand. Then the bigness of the great central thing at
last came to me, and I recognized it. Sitting here in this chair I cried
out in my excitement. The littleness of my own previous viewpoint
overwhelmed me, and what had seemed tragedies assumed at last their
smaller proportions. The greatness of your own ideals, the claim which
the Alma Mater ought to have upon her sons, the right which the larger
world outside has to demand big things of those to whom it gives
advantages, made the petty failures of my life so insignificant that I
was ashamed to have paraded them in public. I have been lying down on my
weaknesses, Huntington, as no man ever has a right to do; but you have
seen the last of that. I'll stand up now and take my medicine, I'll pay
whatever penalty my latest indiscretion may demand, I'll practise some
of that idealism which makes you what you are, and lay the ghost which
for years has tortured me with pin-pricks."

"You give me too much credit, Hamlen," Huntington insisted firmly; "but
since you find relief in what I've said or done I rejoice in your
exaggeration."

"You claimed my life, my friend," Hamlen returned again to his earlier
statement, "and it belongs to you. In all honor, I must make it reflect
attributes which will give it value. With that accomplished, I stand
ready to make delivery; but with it you must also accept its
obligations. How will you have me pay them?"

"Your obligations are not so serious as you imagine," Huntington replied
with decision; "the only one as yet unpaid is to yourself. Had I not
seen this surprising evidence of your latent strength I should not have
believed you capable of meeting it; now I do."

"But Marian--the insult my actions gave her--"

"Forgotten, and forgiven,--if forgiveness be required."

"If I could see her once more, and she would listen to me--"

"She is coming here to see you as soon as I tell her you are strong
enough."

"Coming here?" he echoed; "I can't believe it! And the girl--can she
ever understand?"

"On that point I can reassure you with even greater certainty, for I am
to be the substitute bridegroom!"

Hamlen looked at him steadily to make sure he was in earnest.

"You are to marry Miss Thatcher?" he asked deliberately.

"The Gods have been good to me, Hamlen; they have given me the one gift
I craved."

"Then you have